Pressure gauge



April 3, 1945. F. c. SUTLIFFE EI'AL m 2MJ-372Q864 PRESSURE GAUGEOriginal Filed June 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i i q I I /q a 3 M /4 3I37 6/ 3 I l 4% f g? 23 2; f Q2 7 4/- I. I 22 $2: .3 J

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BY Roy HSl-ILE) ATTORNEY.

April 3, 1945. F. c. SUTLIFFE ET AL v 2372,86"4

PRESSURE GAUGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 19, 1940 INVENTOR5C. JUTL/FF'E Patented Apr. 3, 1945 PRESSURE GAUGE I Frank C. Sutlifle,Mill Valley, and Roy Ashley, Almonte, Calif., assignors to Air BalanceInstrument 60., San Francisco, Calif.

Original application'June 19, 1940, Serial No. 341.300. Divided and thisapplication July 17, 1943, Serial No. 495,396

4 Claims. ('01. 73 388) This invention relates to a gauge and is adivision of our application for valve and gauge, Serial No. 341,300,filed June 19, 1940.

An object of this invention is to provide a gauge of the bridle turbinetype wherein the fluid is applied to the periphery of the rotor in anefiicient manner to accurately indicate fluid pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guage of the bridleturbine type wherein the fluid is conducted to the nozzle orifice froman intake orifice so calibrated as to maintain an undisturbed headbehind the jet issuing from the nozzle against the rotor periphery. y

We are aware that some changes may be made in the general arrangementsand combinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in thedetails of the construction thereof without departing from the scope ofthe present invention as set forth in the following specification, andas defined in the following claims; hencewe do not limit our inventionto the exact arrangements and combinations of the said device and partsas described in the said specification, nor do we confine ourselves tothe exact details of the con- 'struction of the said parts asillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the foregoing detailed description, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings for the illustrative embodiment of the invention,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a face view of the gauge and its valve control.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the gauge and its valve control showingthe valve closed. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the gauge showing thecontrol valve open and the gauge rotor stopped in its previousindicating position, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmental front view of the gauge, the face or dial beingremoved to expose the moving parts in stopped position.

In its general organization our device includes a valve mechanism I, agauge 2 connected to the valve mechanism I so as to indicate thepressure at one of the valve passages, and a brake mechanism 3 forco-ordinating the action of the valve mechanism I and of the gauge 2 sothat when the valve mechanism I is operated to communicate the valvepassages, the gauge is stopped in that reading position which it assumedimmediately preceding the valve opening.

The valve mechanism I has a valve body 4 with two passages 6 and Iseparated by a transverse substantially coaxial valve passages 6- and I.

Holes l3 and I4 extend respectively from the; valve passages 6 and 1toward the valve chamber I2. A lining sleeve I6 of the valve chamber I2has spaced annular ports I! and I8communieating with the holes I 3 andI4 respectively.

In this illustrativ embodiment we make use of a piston valve l9 forcontrolling the flow between the valve ports I! and I8. When the pistonvalve I9 is located between the spaced ports I1 and I8,

then the valve is closed as shown in Figure 2. When the valve I9 ismoved past both ports'II and I8 as shown in Fig. 3, then the valve isopen and flow is permitted through the valve chamber I2 from th intakeport I! to the delivery port I8. A valve stem 2| extends from the pistonvalve I9 and is slidably guided in a plug 22 in the end of the valvebody 4 adjacent the delivery conduit II. A coil spring 23 around thevalve stem 2| normally urges the piston valve l9 into the closingposition shown in Fig. 2. Another stem 24 extends from thepiston valveI9 beyond the intake end of the valve body 4 and has there-, on apacking collar 26 which latter abuts against a shoulder 21 of thechamber lining sleeve I6 so as to limit the valve travel in thatdirection.

The valve mechanism is operated by a lever arm 28 which bears againstthe outside end of the stem 24. This lever arm 28 is iulcrumed at 29 onthe valve body 4 and has a handle 3| extended at a suitable angle foreasy manipulation. When the handle 3| is pressed toward the intakeconduit 9 the lever 28 presses on the stem 24 and moves the valve pistonI9 against the action of the spring 23 past port I8 into the valveopening position shown inFig. 3. When the handle 3| is released then theaction of the spring 23 returns the valve piston l9 to its valve closingposition between the ports I1 and I8 as shown in Fig. 2.

Our gauge 2 is shown in the herein illustration as a unitary structurewith a valve mechanism I. A cup-shaped substantially cylindrical casing32 is formed on the outside of the valve Ibody '4. This casing 32accommodates a gauge mechanism therein. Fluid or air from the valvemechanism 1 is by-passed to the gauge 2 through the valve l9 and throughan opening 33 in the extended end portion 34 of the chamber I 2connectin through the bottom of the casing 32. The valve I9 has anannular by-pass recess 35 on its periphery so located that when thevalve I9 is in the valve closing position, shown in Fig, 2, the by-passrecess 36 is in registry with the delivery port is of the valve sleeveIS. A comparatively small by-pass hole 31 extends from the bottom of theby-pass recess 36 to the end of the piston valve I 9 adjacent the spring23. The by-pass hole 31 is of such size that the chamber portion 34below the valve I9 is filled gradually to the static pressure in thepassage 1. Thus fluid or air is by-passed from the delivery passage 1through the delivery port l8 of the valve chamber l2 into the by-passrecess 36 and then through the by-pass hole 31 in the valve is into thevalve chamber extension 34 and out through the opening 33 into the gauge2. Whenever the valve I 9 is in valve closing position, the pressure onthe delivery side of the passage is communicated to the gauge 2 and areading thereof can be taken in the usual manner. It is to be understoodhowever that by interchanging the functions of the intake and deliverypassages, or by reversing the operating stroke of the piston valve l9this measurement could be taken from the intake side of the valve 19 ifmeasurement of the change of pressure at the intake side is desired. Inusing this device for controlling the inflating of tires the measurementis taken from the delivery side of the valve, namely, from the tire, sothat the pressure in the tire can be gauged intermittently during theinflating operation.

Our gauge 2 includes a base plate 38 on the bottom of the casing 32which has abridge block 39 on one side thereof. A portion 4| protrudesfrom the bridge block 39 over opposite the center of the base plate 38.A spindle 42 is suitably journaled in the base plate 38 and in thebridge portion 4|. A rotor 43 is supported on the spindle 42 forrotation therewith. The rotor 43 preferably has a concave and serratedperiphery as shown. The rotor 43 is rotated by a jet of fluid directedagainst its serrated periphery from a nozzle 44. An arcuate shield orshroud 46 adjacent a segment of the periphery of the rotor 43 confinesthe flow to the rotor periphery over a definite arc. The inlet end 41 ofthe shroud 4B is flared away from the wheel periphery so as to form aVenturi throat into which the jet is directed from the nozzle 44. A dial48 is $6- cured on top of the bridge block 39, and an indicator hand 49secured to the spindle 42 extends through a slot in the dial 48 and isextended horizontally intoindicating position over the face of the dial48. The rotor 43 is controlled by a hair spring 52 which is anchored toa post 50.

In order to accurately calibrate the flow through the nozzle 44 so thatthe resulting gauge reading is proportional to the static head of thefluid measured, we provide an adjustable inlet orifice. In this form thefluid is conducted from the opening 33 to an orifice 53 controlled by aneedle valve 54 in the bridge block 39, and then through a comparativellong and narrow tube 56 to the nozzle 44. The ratio between the inletorifice 53 and the orifice of the nozzle 44 is calibrated by adjustingthe needle valve 54 so that the force exerted on the rotor 43 causes anindication corresponding to the static head of the fluid measured. Inother words, the static head at the valve mechanism 1 is converted intoa calibrated flow acting against the spring balanced rotor so as toindicate accurately the pressure of the static head. The comparativelylong tube 56 assures the maintenance of a calibrated head between theneedle valve orifice 53 and the nozzle 44. This calibration is performedby first adjusting the spring of the rotor, the nozzle and. shroud so asto obtain linear pressure scale in proportion to the force of the jet.Then the gauge is connected to a source of fluid having the maximumstatic head to which the gauge is proposed to be subjected. Forinstance, if the gauge scale is from 0 to pounds pressure, then thegauge is calibrated on a predetermined 120 pounds static head. If thehand 49 of the gauge 2 under this predetermined pressure is not pointingat 120 on the scale of the dial 48, then the needle valve 54 is adjustedso as to restrict or enlarge the inlet orifice 53, until the flowthrough the nozzle 44 is such as to hold the hand 49 in a positionreading on the indication 120, corresponding to said predeterminedmaximum static head. The remaining readings will be linear and thereforethe gauge 2, although operated by a jet, will give accurate readings ofthe static head of the fiuid measured.

The brake mechanism 3 in the herein illustrative embodiment, includes aresilient curved brake shoe 51 mounted at one end thereof on a frame 58,so that the convex side of the brake shoe 51 is adjacent to theperiphery of the rotor 43. A shaft 59 extends from the frame 58 throughthe wall of the casing 32 substantially parallel with the valve travelof the piston valve 19. A coil spring 6| between the brake shoe frame 58and the wall of the casing 32 normally urges the frame 58 and the brakeshoe 51 against the periphery of the rotor 43. The stroke of this brakemovement is limited by a pair of abutment pins 62 on the base plate 38against which the brake shoe frame 58 abuts at the end of its brakeapplying stroke. The free end of the brake shaft 59 extends to a pointadjacent the valve actuating lever 28 and it has an arm 63 extended overand through the open side at the top of the valve chamber sleeve l6 soas to be in the path of the top of the packing collar 26. The relativearrangement is such that when the valve is in closed position as shownin Fig. 2, the packing collar 26 pushes the brake arm 53 so as to moveand hold the brake shaft 59 and the brake shoe 51 away from the rotor43. Hence whenever the valve is closed the brake shoe 51 is held out ofcontact with the rotor 43. This allows the rotation of the rotor 43 byfiuid introduced through the by-pass hole 31 of the valve l9. Wheneverthe valve is opened and the packing collar 26 is moved away from thebrake shaft arm 63, the action of the brake spring 6! is allowed toapply the brake shoe 51 for stopping the rotor 43 and the indicator hand49 in the position in which they were at the moment when the valve wasopened.

In operation the device herein can be easily manipulated. For instance,in inflating pneumatic tires, the delivery line II is connected to thetire valve in the usual manner and the air pressure is immediately, yetgradually, by-passed through the valve l9 to the gauge 2 and the tirepressure can be read on said gauge 2. Then by depressing the actuatinghandle 3| the valve mechanism l is opened and simultaneously the brakemechanism 3 is applied to stop the gauge reading at the instant thepressure. While the valve is open air flows through the valve chamber 12from the supply line 9 to the delivery line I I. During this operationthe handle 31 may be intermittently released so as to momentarily stopthe inflating. When the handle 3| is released the valve spring 23 movesthe valve I9 into closed position and the packing collar 26 disengagesthe brake shoe 5'! from the rotor 43 substantially simultaneously withthe closing of the valve. The air by-passed from the tire through thedelivery line H moves the gauge indication progressively from its nextprevious indication to a position indicating the changed tire pressure.This operation can be repeated frequently during an inflating operation,and successive gauge readings can be taken intermittently withoutreturning the gauge indicator element to an initial starting pointbefore each reading. Thus, sen sitive, accurate and speedier measurementis assured without substantial interruption of the filling operationthrough the valve.

We claim:

1. In a fluid gauge of the bridle turbine type, the combination with theresiliently controlled rotor of the gauge and a jet orifice dischargingagainst the rotor to cause a turning moment thereof of an inlet orificecircumferentially spaced from said jet orifice with respect to therotor, and a conduit leading from the inlet orifice to the jet orifice,the ratio between the size of the inlet orifice and jet orifice beingsuch that the head in said conduit causes a jet force for a turningmoment of the rotor to indicate on the gauge the static head of themedium outside of said inlet orifice.

2. In a fiuid gauge of the bridle turbine type,

"the ratio between the size of the inlet orifice and the jet orificebeing such that the head in said conduit causes a jet force for aturning moment of the rotor to indicate on the gauge the static head ofthe medium outside, of .said inlet orifice, and means to adjust saidinletorifice to calibrate the pressure head behind the jet.

3. In a gauge of the bridled turbine type, the combination with theresiliently balanced-rotor of the gauge and a nozzle directing a jetagainst the rotor periphery to exert turning moment for indication onthe gauge; of an inlet orifice spaced from the nozzle circumferentiallywith respect to .the rotor, a, conduit connecting the inlet orifice tothe nozzle, means to adjust the opening of the inlet orifice, and aplurality of serrations on the rotor periphery, the rotor peripherybeing concave to form an annular channel around the rotor.

4. In a. gauge of the character described, a spring balanced rotor, anelement connected to the shaft of the rotor for gauge indication, ashield partially surrounding the periphery of said rotor, a nozzledirecting a jet into thespace between the shield and the rotorperiphery, an elongated conduit leading to said nozzle, an intake blockat the intake end of the conduit, and

an adjustable valve to control the intake to said conduit so as tomaintain a substahtially'static head in the conduit.

FRANK C. SUTLIFFE. ROY ASHLEY.

